Thread by @olliekarp

In today's #dailysoup, I'll introduce Filipino action star, PDP-Laban leader, senator, and philanthropist, Robin Padilla.

Just like any other celeb-turned-politician, he's best known for his controversial stints, particularly pro-China and some pro-Russia ones.

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Since the 1980s, Padilla played many action and comedy-oriented roles in Filipino films and shows, including "10000 hours", "Manila Boy", "Walana Awa Kung Pumatay", and "Pwedeng Pwede".

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In 1994, Padilla was convicted to eight years in jail for illegal possession of firearms, including a few revolvers, pistols, and assault rifles.

After trying to appeal to legal entities for years, Padilla was pardoned in 1998 by the administration of Fidel Ramos.

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During his entertainment career, Padilla converted to Islam, adapting the "Abdul Aziz" Muslim name, while engaging in advocacy programs towards Filipino Muslims, including establishing a pre-school for Muslim children and even helping the victims of the Battle of Marawi.

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Meanwhile, Padilla is also a supporter of infamous pro-China Filipino leader Rodrigo Duterte, especially when Duterte granted him "absolute pardon" from his 1990s "illegal possession of firearms" case.

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Although Padilla was skeptical on the infamous ABS-CBN shutdown, he is a supporter of Duterte's infamous "war on drugs" that he defended Duterte when the ICC was investigating him.

Padilla is also a supporter of Duterte's pro-China peepotalking remarks.

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During one meeting with a DFA official, Padilla denied the Philippines' victory in the 2016 SCS arbitral ruling, claiming that it is "...just a piece of paper, it cannot be implemented".

He told USec Eduardo Jose de Vega, who he referred to as "barumbado",...

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...a slang word derived from the title of one of his films, to "inform the public about the VFA and MDT". Meanwhile, Padilla criticised the US for "inefficient support during the Battle of Marawi despite existing military agreements".



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When Duterte called the "June 2019 Chinese sinking of a Filipino vessel at Reed Bank" as "a little maritime accident", Padilla supported his statement, saying that "...it is not a reason for us to go to war against China and for us to be obliterated...". He added...

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...that "the [June 2019 Reed Bank] incident should not be blown out of proportion".

In reality, the 2019 Reed Bank incident is one reason for my country to defend its sovereignty cuz it's a major Chinese grey-zone threat against a Filipino ship in PH maritime territory.

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After 200+ Chinese vessels illegally hoarded fish in the WPS in April 2021, Duterte took a reluctant stand, and Padilla "dared" politicians vocal against Duterte's stand on the incident to "form a militia and then go to the WPS to try confronting the Chinese vessels".

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One month after the November 2021 "water cannon incident" at the Ayungin Shoal, Padilla opposed Francis Escudero's proposals to "build a permanent outpost at the atoll", stating that "it would only cause trouble [with China]", adding that "we can't be like China".

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In reality, building a permanent Philippine military outpost at an atoll like the Ayungin Shoal doesn't mean that "Manila is acting like China".

It means that Manila is showing the world that the Ayungin Shoal is a part of PH territory and China should go away from it.

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After Liu Jianchao stated that "PH and China are open to discuss about PH-China joint oil exploration", Padilla quoted him and then said "...instead of fighting with China, let's have a joint exploration with them in the WPS", adding that "China will be allowed to drill...

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...while the profits will be split [between PH and China]". Then, Padilla urged his colleagues to "study the possibility of PH-China joint development".

In reality, PH-China joint oil explorations in the WPS will be risky cuz they would give China more power in the WPS.

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Speaking of the new EDCA bases in my country, Padilla bought into the "US-is-provoking-China" peepotalk when he suggested that "the US shoudn't use EDCA to turn the Philippines into a staging ground against China", adding that "he became a reservist to not fight China".

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Then, Padilla said that "The US' plan to spend...to improve AFP infrastructure could send a wrong signal to China", suggesting that Washington should "send only cash aid" and "Philippines should stay neutral towards countries like the US and China".

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Besides attending a meeting with a pro-China peep from a previous entry, Huang Xilian, on "POGOs and PH-China joint oil exploration", Padilla shared a post about Mao Zedong in an attempt to promote the film he directed, which is titled "Memoirs of a Teenage Rebel".

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Meanwhile, Padilla is also known for some pro-Russia stints.

Three months after 02/24/2022, Padilla, during a Q&A session, said that "he's a fan of Putin cuz of his martial arts expertise and how he defended workers".



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In 2021, one year before Russia invaded Ukraine, Padilla thanked Putin for "holding a telesummit with Duterte for PH-Russia cooperation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic".

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Meanwhile, Padilla shared an FB post of a major Filipino army chief discussing the consideration of Philippine military cooperation with the Russian Army.

He commented with two words: "Mother Russia".

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When Ukrainian forces stormed Bilhorod, Padilla once shared a post from a pro-Brexit x pro-Farage Facebook page "We Want Our Nation Back" containing a video of two podcasters peepotalking about "NATO escalating the war in Ukraine by attacking Belgorod".

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Padilla is also known for statements including his support for Cha-Cha, questioning on "why Filipinos love K-Pop more than local stars", blatant historical gaffes about DLSU, and his "support for ROTC".

However, they sparked backlash from Filipino online folk.

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Padilla also served as an executive VP of Duterte's party, PDP-Laban. However, after political drama arising from issues on Cha-Cha and the demotion of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he resigned from his post to "give more time to his senatorial duties".

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During a Senate session on the "National Hijab Bill", Padilla said "I move" to JV Ejercito, while trying to "state the motion in English".

This went viral, with some netizens amused and some wondering if gov't officials are still following rules.



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Related entries:
South China Sea dispute - https://t.co/WSUt6Q9i8K

Pro-CCP peepotalking points - https://t.co/0UwyfHrhZn

PDP-Laban - https://t.co/IzsD4miQwXbuymeacoffee.com/olliekarp

Related entries (cont.):
Ayungin Shoal -

Scarborough Shoal - https://t.co/EdtJG47ple

Huang Xilian - https://t.co/fJsK1vKwFj

Shoutouts:
@P_Kallioniemi, @Aaron_MatthewIL, @FMangosingINQ, @LukeShiga

This is Entry #75 of the #dailysoup. Feel free to read the previous entries here 👇
bit.ly/thedailysoup

APPENDIX: Padilla became one of the people who voted "yes" to the bill creating the Maharlika Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund that could possibly become a "Filipino version of 1MDB".

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ANOTHER APPENDIX: Although Padilla resigned from his post as executive VP in PDP-Laban, he still remains a member of the party.

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